Electricity prices are easier to understand when translated into the same amount of energy. This comparison holds usage constant and asks one simple question: what would 500, 1,000, or 1,500 kWh cost at each state's July 2026 average residential price?
The national benchmark
At the U.S. residential average of 18.31¢/kWh, 1,000 kWh corresponds to $183.10 in usage-based energy cost. The same 1,000 kWh is about $127.20 at Louisiana's average and $480.00 at Hawaii's.
Why fixed usage makes state differences clearer
Comparing actual monthly bills can mix together two variables: electricity price and household consumption. Holding usage at 1,000 kWh isolates the price difference. It does not tell you which state has the lowest real household bill because climate, housing, electrification, and consumption patterns differ.
State-by-state cost table
| Low-to-high rank | State/DC | Price | 500 kWh | 1,000 kWh | 1,500 kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisiana | 12.72¢/kWh | $63.60 | $127.20 | $190.80 |
| 2 | Nevada | 12.77¢/kWh | $63.85 | $127.70 | $191.55 |
| 3 | Utah | 13.12¢/kWh | $65.60 | $131.20 | $196.80 |
| 4 | North Dakota | 13.41¢/kWh | $67.05 | $134.10 | $201.15 |
| 5 | Tennessee | 13.71¢/kWh | $68.55 | $137.10 | $205.65 |
| 6 | Idaho | 13.73¢/kWh | $68.65 | $137.30 | $205.95 |
| 7 | Nebraska | 13.78¢/kWh | $68.90 | $137.80 | $206.70 |
| 8 | Kentucky | 13.81¢/kWh | $69.05 | $138.10 | $207.15 |
| 9 | Arkansas | 14.33¢/kWh | $71.65 | $143.30 | $214.95 |
| 10 | Oklahoma | 14.35¢/kWh | $71.75 | $143.50 | $215.25 |
| 11 | Wyoming | 14.36¢/kWh | $71.80 | $143.60 | $215.40 |
| 12 | Mississippi | 14.54¢/kWh | $72.70 | $145.40 | $218.10 |
| 13 | Washington | 14.71¢/kWh | $73.55 | $147.10 | $220.65 |
| 14 | Montana | 14.99¢/kWh | $74.95 | $149.90 | $224.85 |
| 15 | Florida | 15.03¢/kWh | $75.15 | $150.30 | $225.45 |
| 16 | North Carolina | 15.16¢/kWh | $75.80 | $151.60 | $227.40 |
| 17 | Kansas | 15.27¢/kWh | $76.35 | $152.70 | $229.05 |
| 18 | South Dakota | 15.37¢/kWh | $76.85 | $153.70 | $230.55 |
| 19 | Arizona | 15.38¢/kWh | $76.90 | $153.80 | $230.70 |
| 20 | South Carolina | 15.47¢/kWh | $77.35 | $154.70 | $232.05 |
| 21 | West Virginia | 15.78¢/kWh | $78.90 | $157.80 | $236.70 |
| 22 | Texas | 15.88¢/kWh | $79.40 | $158.80 | $238.20 |
| 23 | Oregon | 15.97¢/kWh | $79.85 | $159.70 | $239.55 |
| 24 | Iowa | 15.99¢/kWh | $79.95 | $159.90 | $239.85 |
| 25 | Missouri | 16.09¢/kWh | $80.45 | $160.90 | $241.35 |
| 26 | New Mexico | 16.09¢/kWh | $80.45 | $160.90 | $241.35 |
| 27 | Georgia | 16.27¢/kWh | $81.35 | $162.70 | $244.05 |
| 28 | Alabama | 16.40¢/kWh | $82.00 | $164.00 | $246.00 |
| 29 | Indiana | 16.73¢/kWh | $83.65 | $167.30 | $250.95 |
| 30 | Colorado | 17.00¢/kWh | $85.00 | $170.00 | $255.00 |
| 31 | Minnesota | 17.45¢/kWh | $87.25 | $174.50 | $261.75 |
| 32 | Virginia | 17.55¢/kWh | $87.75 | $175.50 | $263.25 |
| 33 | Delaware | 18.48¢/kWh | $92.40 | $184.80 | $277.20 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | 19.06¢/kWh | $95.30 | $190.60 | $285.90 |
| 35 | Illinois | 19.22¢/kWh | $96.10 | $192.20 | $288.30 |
| 36 | Ohio | 19.45¢/kWh | $97.25 | $194.50 | $291.75 |
| 37 | Maryland | 21.41¢/kWh | $107.05 | $214.10 | $321.15 |
| 38 | Pennsylvania | 21.72¢/kWh | $108.60 | $217.20 | $325.80 |
| 39 | Michigan | 23.05¢/kWh | $115.25 | $230.50 | $345.75 |
| 40 | Vermont | 23.75¢/kWh | $118.75 | $237.50 | $356.25 |
| 41 | Connecticut | 24.16¢/kWh | $120.80 | $241.60 | $362.40 |
| 42 | New Jersey | 25.19¢/kWh | $125.95 | $251.90 | $377.85 |
| 43 | District of Columbia | 25.21¢/kWh | $126.05 | $252.10 | $378.15 |
| 44 | New Hampshire | 26.60¢/kWh | $133.00 | $266.00 | $399.00 |
| 45 | Rhode Island | 28.29¢/kWh | $141.45 | $282.90 | $424.35 |
| 46 | Alaska | 28.83¢/kWh | $144.15 | $288.30 | $432.45 |
| 47 | New York | 29.90¢/kWh | $149.50 | $299.00 | $448.50 |
| 48 | Massachusetts | 30.49¢/kWh | $152.45 | $304.90 | $457.35 |
| 49 | Maine | 32.41¢/kWh | $162.05 | $324.10 | $486.15 |
| 50 | California | 33.61¢/kWh | $168.05 | $336.10 | $504.15 |
| 51 | Hawaii | 48.00¢/kWh | $240.00 | $480.00 | $720.00 |
How to use this table
Use it as a broad comparison or as a fallback when you do not know your own utility rate. For a personal estimate, replace the state average with the cents-per-kWh figure that best represents your actual tariff. Fixed customer charges, taxes, credits, demand charges, time-of-use pricing, and other bill items are not included in these simple multiplication examples.
For a more complete explanation of why the rate on a bill can differ from an all-in average, read Electricity Rate vs. Total Bill.
Source
Primary data: U.S. Energy Information Administration residential electricity price data for July 2026. Calculations are price × usage.